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Reexamination: Strategic Use With Concurrent Litigation – Tactics and Recent Trends

Reexamination: Strategic Use With Concurrent Litigation – Tactics and Recent Trends. Stephen G. Kunin September 2009. What Is New?. In 2005 USPTO formed CRU made up of primary examiners who handle reexamination exclusively working in teams of 3

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Reexamination: Strategic Use With Concurrent Litigation – Tactics and Recent Trends

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  1. Reexamination:Strategic Use With Concurrent Litigation – Tactics and Recent Trends Stephen G. Kunin September 2009

  2. What Is New? • In 2005 USPTO formed CRU made up of primary examiners who handle reexamination exclusively working in teams of 3 • CRU examiners did not examine original patents to remove perception of patent owner bias

  3. Reexamination Is Conducted In CRU CRU: All primary examiners who work in teams of 3

  4. I. Ex Parte Reexamination Surge Ex Parte Request Statistics: 2009: 481 filings through 6/09

  5. I. Ex Parte Reexamination Surge Ex Parte Reexamination Decisions: 92% granted

  6. I. Ex Parte Reexamination Surge Ex Parte Reexaminations by Discipline:

  7. I. Ex Parte Reexamination Surge Ex Parte Reexaminations with Related Litigation: 57% 45% 34% 31% 27% 19%

  8. Inter Partes Reexamination Surge • 671 requests filed since 2000 • Almost 500 requests filed since 2007 • 66% of patents known to be in litigation • Current average 1.9 months to order • Current average 3.7 months to FAOM • Current average 41.7 months to certificate

  9. I. Inter Partes Reexam Surge Inter Partes Reexaminations by Discipline:

  10. Ex Parte and Inter Partes Reexam Stats †Ex parte reexams through 2009. * Inter partes reexams through June 30, 2009 (77 completed). ** Only one inter partes reexam issued with claims; all original claims were cancelled and new claims were added.

  11. Why Is Reexamination Important? • It is an effective tool for the patent owner, if the patent owner is the ex parte reexamination requester • To clear original patent claims over newly discovered patents and printed publications • Add dependent claims • Amend claims invalidated by a court to give new life to the patent – Dystar (www.oblon.com/media/index.php?id=441 )

  12. Why Is Reexamination Important? • It is an effective tool for a third party as an alternative or in concert with litigation to seek cancellation or amendment of original patent claims to improve its non-infringement position or to eliminate past damages through intervening rights • Claims do not enjoy a statutory presumption of validity • Preponderance of the evidence burden of proof rather than clear and convincing evidence

  13. Ex Parte ReexaminationCommon Strategies Initiating 3rd Party Considerations/Tactics Offensive • Forced Intervening rights, estoppel, narrowing of claims • Seek stay of concurrent litigation • Reexamination can be successful where unsuccessful in parallel district court proceeding (In re Translogic) • Multiple requests for reexamination when progress made (attack related) by patent owner

  14. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEFENDANTS • Delay litigation (e.g. to buy time for design around, tire plaintiff, defer costs, search for additional art, wait until patent expires) • Alleviate infringement/invalidity claim construction conflict • Cast shadow over patent for jury

  15. Ex Parte ReexaminationAncillary Mechanics • Petitions will stall proceedings • Merger with other proceedings such as reissue will stall progress -common patent owner tactic -may lead to new non-final action

  16. Ex Parte ReexaminationInterplay with Litigation Past Litigation • PTO will not follow Markman!!! • Final Decision of patent validity is not binding • Final Decision (all appeals exhausted) on patent Invalidity IS BINDING Co-Pending • Stay of litigation accelerates pace of reexamination (often overlooked by Examiner)

  17. USPTO Patent Reexamination Was Proper Despite Earlier Consideration of Same Prior Art in District Court and Earlier Consideration in Different Context in USPTO -- In re Swanson 2007-1534 • The Federal Circuit held a substantial new question of patentability was presented because (1) considering a question in district court is not the equivalent of having the USPTO consider it, as the standard of proof – a preponderance of evidence – is lower in the USPTO and (2) the Deutch reference originally was considered by the USPTO only in a different context, as a secondary reference.

  18. USPTO Not Bound by Earlier District Court Claim Construction in Reexamination of Patents for Systems of Adjusting Accounts for Inflation -- In re Trans Texas Holdings Corp. 2006-1599, -1600 • The Federal Circuit rejected the argument that the USPTO was bound by a Markman claim construction order in an earlier district court suit to which the USPTO was not a party. The USPTO could not be bound unless it had “a ‘full and fair opportunity’ to litigate that issue in the earlier case.” (Citations omitted.) The Federal Circuit also upheld the USPTO’s broadest reasonable interpretation of a disputed claim term and found substantial evidence to support the USPTO’s interpretation of prior art references.

  19. In Translogic Technology Inc. v. Hitachi Ltd., Appeals Nos. 05-1387, 06-1333504 F.2d 1249, 1251 (Fed. Cir. 2007) • The Federal Circuit achieved a similar result when it stayed a permanent injunction after the BPAI upheld a PTO re-examination decision adverse to the patentability of the claims upon which the injunction was based. (See In re Translogic Technology Inc., 504 F.2d 1249, 1251 (Fed. Cir. 2007))

  20. In Procter & Gamble Co. v. Kraft Foods Global Inc., 549 F.3d 842, 847 (Fed. Cir. 2008) • The Federal Circuit held it was an abuse of discretion for the district court to stay parallel infringement litigation that included the patent owner’s preliminary injunction motion after the examiner in the re-examination confirmed the patentability of the asserted claims.

  21. Infringement Suit Defendant LTV Steel May Recover Attorney Fees After USPTO Reexamination Determination That Patents Are Invalid -- Inland Steel Co. v. LTV Steel Co. 03-1483 -- Inland Steel Co. v. LTV Steel Co. • On April 9 in an opinion by Judge Bryson, the Federal Circuit decided LTV was eligible to recover attorney fees in a patent infringement suit against it by Inland Steel. A jury had determined Inland’s patents were infringed, after which the lower court dismissed the suit with leave to reinstate pending the outcome of a USPTO reexamination initiated by LTV. The USPTO determined the patents were invalid and LTV moved to reopen the suit to obtain attorney fees and costs. The Federal Circuit decided LTV was a “prevailing party” and remanded the case.

  22. Procedural Differences: Ex parte/Inter partesWho Can Initiate? • Ex parte: Patentee, Director or 3rd party (can be anonymous) • Inter partes: 3rd party only identifying real party in interest • Time to First Office Action ex parte: 8.7 months- inter partes 3.7 months • What Patents? • Ex parte: Those filed on or after 07/01/81 • Inter Partes: Those filed on or after 11/29/1999 • Interviews Permitted (ex parte)- Not permitted (inter partes) • Estoppel? No (ex parte) Yes (inter partes) • Appeal Patent owner only (ex parte) • Both parties (inter partes)

  23. Differences in Estoppel Effect • No statutory estoppel in ex parte reexamination • Inter Partes Civil Action Estoppel • A third party requester in a prior inter partes reexamination is estopped from later asserting in a civil action the invalidity of any claim finally determined to be valid and patentable on any ground that the third party requester raised or could have raised in the inter partes reexamination. • Estoppel attaches only after board decision (or maybe later) • About 3 to 5 years after filing • Doesn’t affect offers for sale, prior public uses, prior invention, derivation, inequitable conduct, 112 arguments,

  24. Differences in Estoppel EffectInter Partes Reexamination Estoppel • No additional inter partes requests by same party after the first inter partes reexamination is declared • Exception: Arguments that “could not have been raised” in the earlier reexamination • After cert. denial in litigation, party to litigation can’t initiate or maintain an inter partes reexamination • This is the one circumstance in which the PTO will conclude a reexamination

  25. Inter Partes ReexaminationCommon Strategies Initiating Considerations/Tactics Offensive • Gain leverage, can agree to stop participating in inter partes • Could be basis for quick settlement at reduced $$ • Weak Non-infringement position in litigation • NPE doesn’t want expense of defending its patent in reexamination • Invalidity defense may be too technical for jury? • Estoppel not to be taken lightly • Combine both ex parte (anonymous) and inter partes to avoid some estoppel

  26. Inter Partes ReexaminationCommon Strategies Defensive • Merger with broadening reissue • Broadened claim scope not subject to attack by 3rd party -new claims should depend from broader claims to insulate from 3rd party comments and further art submissions • RCE, extensions for reissues but no Interviews for inter partes reexaminations • Reexamination continues, no comments outside of issues pertaining to initial request

  27. Inter Partes ReexaminationInterplay with Litigation Litigation • Inter Partesvery slow, appeals can delay proceedings for years • Almost no Inter Partes have been concluded with valid claims • Sony v. Dudas (make sure you request reexamination of all claims) • 1 request, “raised or could have raised” estoppel -previous reexamination or litigation -physical devices different? Acco Brands, Inc. (N.D. Cal 2008) • Final Court decision on validity is binding on same party, reexamination stopped (race to conclusion)

  28. INTERPLAY WITH LITIGATION: The Tool Bag. . . • Influence • Preliminary Relief • Decision on invalidity • Secure a Stay • Elicit Admissions • Secure Intervening Rights • Pressure Resolution of Dispute • “Forum Shop” • Strengthen Patent • Bolster (or Refute) Inequitable Conduct Charges

  29. INTERPLAY WITH LITIGATION • Stay of Litigation • Outcomes. . . And Again, Timing is (Almost) Everything • Stage of litigation matters; the earlier the better • But even close to trial a stay can still be a possibility • Stage of reexamination matters • Inter partes v. ex parte matters in some jurisdictions

  30. INTERPLAY WITH LITIGATION • Stay of Reexamination • Ex parte reexamination • Not permitted • Inter partes reexamination • Permitted, but very rare • One case in which Fed Cir appeal was underway when reexamination request was filed

  31. INTERPLAY WITH LITIGATION • Intervening Rights • Mandatory Intervening Rights • Past damages eliminated if amended claims are not substantially identical to original claims • Equitable Intervening Rights • Court may deny or limit post-certificate damages

  32. INTERPLAY WITH LITIGATION • Dispute Resolution • Encourage licensing company to walk away (prepare but don’t file) • Narrow claim construction • may shift cost/reward calculus for patentee • Tire out plaintiff with serial or multiple filings • Might produce useful estoppels or admissions • But once started, can’t stop

  33. INTERPLAY WITH LITIGATION • Is a Court or the PTO the Better Forum? • Many arguments play better in the PTO • References that are “squinting 102s” • Complex technology • Complicated, technical arguments • Do obviousness arguments still play better in the PTO after KSR? • Before KSR, your odds were much better in the PTO • Now it’s a much closer call • Examiners have tendency to try to allow something • Judges and juries tend to have an all-or-nothing outcome

  34. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS • When to File Reexamination as a 3d Party? • Before Lawsuit • Substantially improves chances of court granting stay • Even if not stayed, may moot verdict of infringement • If the Federal Circuit disposes of the reexamination first • Race to appealable judgment • Translogic v. Hitachi (Fed.Cir. 2007) • At the Beginning of a Lawsuit • Increase chance of stay • Minimize the chance of a PI (for inter partes) • First OA is likely to occur before trial

  35. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS • When to File Reexamination as a 3d Party (cont’d)? • Before trial • Requests can be supported by arguments developed in the lawsuit • Grant of a reexamination may be influential to the trier of fact • May be influential in post-trial actions (e.g. arguing against a permanent injunction) • Less concerned about estoppel in inter partes as prior art searching completed • After the verdict • Second bite at the apple for losing defendant • May reduce ongoing royalty payments, cause lifting of injunction • Some have suggested that it may be malpractice if counsel for losing defendant fails to seek reexamination

  36. SUMMARY • Reexamination tends to be substantially more effective when the requester has greater participation (i.e.,inter partes and to a lesser extent serial ex parte requests) • Estoppel effects, timing and interplay with litigation must be carefully considered • Reexamination may moot an infringement verdict • Race to judgment • Even if lose that race, may terminate injunction or royalties

  37. Thank You • If you have questions or comments send them to: Stephen G. Kunin skunin@oblon.com 703-413-3000

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